Process and equipment for effecting savings in compressed gases during injection of solids by means of pneumatic conveyors

Claim 2

A process of saving gas in the pneumatic injection of particulate solids into a blow line connected with a second container pressurized with the gas, comprising the steps of: charging the solids in discrete batches into a first pressurizable container: pressurizing the first container from a reservoir of the compressed gas, while a previous batch of said solids is being injected into the blow line from the second container: charging the batch of pressurized solids in first container into the second container by connecting the containers to equalize the pressure therebetween, while solids in the second container are being continuously discharged under pressure into the blow line: cutting off connection between the containers on completion of discharge of an accumulated batch of solids from the first to the second container and subsequently connecting the first container with the reservoir to pass gas thereto for subsequently pressurizing the first container.

Claim 3

The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: charging make-up gas under pressure to the first container, while it is under pressure, from a source independent of the reservoir, to increase the pressure in the first container to at least equal that in the second container.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said divider comprising a flexible diaphragm, and pressurized air means connected with the first chamber of said reservoir and operable to move said divider, to thereby vary the volume of said second chamber, to impel gas to said first container, to and from the second chamber of said reservoir.

Claim 7

The process of continuously charging particulate solids into a flow line, comprising: establishing connection between a supply source and a first container to effect gravitational flow of solids as a first batch, from the source to the first container, at ambient pressure: closing off connection between the supply source and first container on accumulation of a first batch of particulate solids therein: connecting the first container to a reservoir of pressurized gas, to elevate the pressure therein to above atmospheric; effecting flow of solids from the first container to a second container disposed beneath the first container, by opening a conduit between them, while continuously charging solids from the second container to the flow line; closing off the conduit on exhaustion of material flowing from the first container; connecting the first container to the reservoir to effect return flow of gas thereto; closing off communication between the first container and reservoir on equalization of pressure between them; connecting the first container to atmosphere on equalization of pressure between the first container and reservoir; re-establishing connection between the supply source and first container to effect flow of a second batch to the first container; closing off connection between the supply source and first container on accumulation of the second batch therein; re-connecting the reservoir to the first container to effect return flow of gas thereto; supplying make-up gas to the first container by connecting the same with a pressurized source independent from the reservoir, to elevate the pressure in the first container to a value at least equal to that in the second container; thereafter closing the connection between the independent source and the first container; and re-establishing connection between the containers to effect flow of the second batch in the first container, to the second container.

Claim 8

The process of continuously charging particulate solids into a flow line, comprising: establishing connection between a supply source and a first container to effect gravitational flow of solids as a first batch, from the source to the first container, at ambient pressure: closing off connection between the supply source and first container on accumulation of a first batch of particulate solids therein: connecting the first container to a reservoir of pressurized gas, to elevate the pressure therein to above atmospheric; effecting flow of solids from the first container to a second container disposed beneath the first container, by opening a conduit between them, while continuously charging solids from the second container to the flow line; closing off the conduit on exhaustion of material flowing from the first container; connecting the first container to the reservoir to effect return flow of gas thereto; closing off communication between the first container and reservoir on equalization of pressure between them; connecting the first container to atmosphere on equalization of pressure between the first container and reservoir; re-establishing connection between the supply source and first container to effect flow of a second batch to the first container; closing off connection between the supply source and first container on accumulation of the second batch therein; re-connecting the reservoir to the first container to effect return flow of gas thereto; supplying make-up gas to the first container by connecting the same with a pressurized source independent from the reservoir, to elevate the pressure in the first container to a value at least equal to that in the second container; thereafter closing the connection between the independent source and the first container; and re-establishing connection between the containers to effect flow of the second batch in the first container, to the second container.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5, and cutting off connection between the reservoir and first container, prior to supplying make-up gas to the latter.

Claim 10

The process of claim 6, and cutting off connection between the reservoir and first container just prior to opening the conduit between containers.

Claim 11

The process of claim 7, said particulate material being burnt lime, said gas being oxygen, said flow line conveying the particulate material to a steel melt.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for continuously feeding particulate material under superatmospheric pressure, to a flow line; first and second superposed containers; a first valved conduit connecting the base of said first container and the top of said second container; a second valved conduit connecting the base of said second container and flow line; a supply bin elevated above said containers; a third valved conduit connecting said supply bin and first container; a pressurizable reservoir; divider means in said reservoir to form therein, first and second chambers of reciprocally varying volumes; a fourth valved conduit connecting the second chamber of said reservoir, with said first container; a source of compressed gas; and a fifth valved conduit connecting said source and first chamber of said reservoir.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for continuously feeding particulate material under superatmospheric pressure, to a flow line; first and second superposed containers; a first valved conduit connecting the base of said first container and the top of said second container; a second valved conduit connecting the base of said second container and flow line; a supply bin elevated above said containers; a third valved conduit connecting said supply bin and first container; a pressurizable reservoir; divider means in said reservoir to form therein, first and second chambers of reciprocally varying volumes; a fourth valved conduit connecting the second chamber of said reservoir, with said first container; a source of compressed gas; and a fifth valved conduit connecting said source and first chamber of said reservoir.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9, a source of pressurized gas independent of said reservoir; and a sixth valved conduit connecting said source and first container.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9, and a seventh valved conduit connecting said first container to atmosphere.